Voting Rights Changes, 1776 - 1820

Massachusetts

Constitution of 1780, Section III. House of Representatives

IV. Every male person who is at least 21 years old, and lives in any town in this

state for one year and owns property within the same town, with a yearly income of $13, or any property worth $273, shall have a right to vote.

Amendment of 1821

Article III. Every male citizen who is at least 21 years old who has lived within the state for one year, shall have a right to vote; and no other person shall be entitled to vote in such election.

New York

Constitution of 1777

VII. Every male who is at least 21 years old, who has lived in a county of this State for six months immediately before the day of election, shall be able to vote for if, during that time, he owned property in the county worth $90.

Constitution of 1821, Article II

Section 1. Every male citizen who is at least 21 years old, who lived in this state one year before any election, or shall have performed, within that year, military duty; and also, every male citizen who is at least 21 years old, and lived in this state for 3 years shall be allowed to vote but no man of color, unless he has been a citizen of this state for 3 years, and owns property worth $250 shall be allowed to vote in any election.

New Jersey

Constitution of 1776

All people living in this colony who are at least 21 years old, who have property worth $220 and have lived within the county where they vote for twelve

months immediately before the election, shall be allowed to vote.

1807 New Jersey Legislature’s “Act to regulate the election of members of the legislative

council and general assembly, sheriffs and coroners in this state”

no person shall vote in any state or county election unless they are a free, white male citizen of this state, at least 21 years old, have property worth $220, and have lived in the county where he votes, for at least twelve months immediately before the election.

1844 New Jersey Constitution

Every white male citizen of the United States, at least 21 years old, who has lived in this state one year, & for 5 months in the county where he plans to vote shall be allowed to vote.